Irish Comedy
Showcase

☘️ A Highlighted Event at the IAHC ☘️

One of the Biggest New Additions to This Year's Festival

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of stand-up comedy featuring headliner Adam Burke, one of Chicago's most acclaimed comedians with deep Irish roots. Whether you're Irish or just looking for a night of incredible laughs, don't miss what promises to be one of the festival's standout events!

☘️ The Lineup

Meet the Comics

Headliner

Adam Burke

Originally from County Armagh, Ireland, Adam Burke has become one of Chicago's most recognizable voices in comedy. A regular panelist on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Burke is also a former writer for WGN-TV's Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo and has written for The Onion and Second City. He was voted Best Stand-Up Comic by readers of the Chicago Reader and won Second City's Up Next Comedy Competition. He's appeared at major festivals including Just for Laughs Chicago, Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy Festival, and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and has opened for comedy greats including John Mulaney, Maria Bamford, Marc Maron, Hannibal Buress, Aziz Ansari, John Oliver, and many more. As one of Chicago's most prominent Irish comedians, Adam has long been a favorite within the Irish community and has headlined Irish comedy events across the Midwest.

Host & Producer

Conor Cawley

Conor is a Chicago-based comedian who has been performing regularly in the city's various world famous comedy clubs since before he lost all his hair. His high-energy vibe seamlessly blends material on fatherhood with engaging crowd work, making you ask yourself, “Why don't my friends listen to me like this?” As the regular host and founding producer of Don't Tell Comedy in Chicago, Conor has had the privilege of performing alongside great comedians like Jeff Garlin, Jackie Kashian, and Hannibal Buress, in unique locations like salons, gyms, banks, and other places he has no business being outside of comedy shows. His recent sold-out collaboration with the IAHC proved just how much Chicago loves live comedy — and he hosts and produces this evening's showcase, performing as part of the lineup.

Comedian

Kait Carmody

Kait Carmody is a Chicago-based comedian, producer, and storyteller whose Irish heritage is a big part of both her family and her comedy. Her dad is from County Clare, and both of her mom's parents are from County Mayo — which Kait likes to point out means her parents got together and produced children who are allergic to sunlight. Kait is the newest producer and regular performer of Chicago's long-running show, The Blackout Diaries, every Friday night at the Lincoln Lodge theater, sharing drunk stories and pictures & videos. She also produces and hosts Irish-American comedy showcases on both the North and South Sides of Chicago. She has performed at The Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, Zanies, and The Lincoln Lodge, and is excited to bring her Irish-American family stories, Midwest humor, and storytelling style to the Halfway to St. Patrick's Day Festival.

Comedian

Jeanie Doogan

A South Side Irish comic who has performed at the festival before — and loves it. Jeanie's humor ranges from sweet and nostalgic to edgy and adult-themed. Her quick observations and no-apology take on teaching, motherhood, and American culture sets herself apart from her peers. Her sharp wit draws on her experiences growing up on the Southside of Chicago, and her years as a public school teacher, to deliver comedy that reaches audiences of all ages, genders, and walks of life. The Chicago Tribune calls Jeanie's comedy perspective “fresh”, which is coincidently what Jeanie's dates call her, right before they ask her to pay her half of the bar tab. She has entertained audiences at colleges, casinos, and corporate events, in addition to legendary venues throughout the US. She was recently featured in “Chicago Parents' Magazine's Four of Chicago's Funniest: Stand Up Parents”, as well as featured on Nick Jr.'s Moms' Night Out stand up special.

Comedian

John McCombs

A local Chicago comic who has traveled extensively through Europe doing comedy — including Ireland. John has performed in 15 different countries over three European tours and filmed his first stand up special “Make A Way to Estonia” in Tallinn, Estonia for Tubi. He has opened for Michelle Wolf (Netflix, Comedy Central) and Tim Meadows (SNL), and is a regular at clubs in the Chicagoland area. He brings his globe-trotled stand-up back home to the IAHC stage.